James Madison University Top Questions

Great! There's a wide variety and so many opportunities to find your career.

Academics at JMU definitely aren't Ivy League; if they were, we'd be an Ivy League school. However, we have highly competitive and sought out colleges within the University. The professors are generally amazing, in my experience. Even in the 100+ student classrooms, the teachers do their best to learn names. I have never felt like just another number here. The staff is as much a part of the school as the students are. They can be found at many of the athletic events as well. I am an IDLS major, Elementary Education minor, and I absolutely love my program and professors. They have all spent a great deal of time in the field, and know what they're talking about. They are personable and easy to talk to which I love about them. They definitely teach to the career rather than just to teach.

I think the academics are really perfect here because you have a wide variety of small and large classes with different styles of teaching. Each class really has something different to offer with our liberal studies background, and kids always seem to be passionate and engaged about subject matter even if it isn't their major. Even outside the classroom students don't stop thinking and I am always impressed to see how many kids are having heated debates about politics, life, and anything in general as I pass by. I am most impressed with my major studies, Media Arts and Design, because I never knew how much JMU had to offer in this department. Most of my teachers have been excellent, really preparing me for graduation and the real world. They are always there to talk to, before and after class, and the focus is on preparing you for specific job duties. Classes are not so much about how well you study but about how well you listen and grasp the material in lecture. Tests can be hard just like at any school, but here if you are willing to put something into it you will most likely succeed.

In some of my classes my professors know my name but that isn't very common because they have so many students. The only way a professor would get to know you personally is if you went to their office hours and developed a relationship with them. I have one professor who I am very close with and I go talk to her all the time she is so nice and helps me out constantly. I think it is up to the student whether or not they want to get to know their professors or not. Most of the general education classes are smaller so the professor would know you better there but once you get into you major classes a lot of them have more students so its harder for the professors to know you individually. My favorite class would probably be anatomy. It was really hard but it was so much fun and I learned so much. My least favorite would have to be literature. It was a lot of work and there was a lot of reading involved which took up a lot of time. Class participation is not very common it isn't required to participate in a lot of my classes but in my gcom which is a communications class and one of my other general education classes it was a graded requirement. Even though it isn't required there is still a lot of communication inside of the classroom. Students participate whenever they want to and have a good idea to contribute. There are intellectual conversations outside of class but I would think that depends on the type of person you are and the types of things you like talking about. Some of my friends I don't have intellectual conversations with but then other ones we talk for hours about all of the stuff we've learned and new things that are going on in the world. I wouldn't say the students are competitive I feel like everyone works as hard as they want to work and there isn't much competition unless you are a nursing major like me. Getting into the nursing program is extremely competitive. You need to work hard from the very first semester you get here if you want to get into the nursing program. The classes are difficult but they are very interesting if that is the field of study you want to go into. For nursing you have to take anatomy, physiology, chem, nutrition, statistics and a psych class for your pre-requisites and then your geneds as well. Some of the pre-reqs count as geneds also. I'm also a human science minor which includes the biology of humans as well as anthropology and psychology. One of the most unique classes I've taken is evolutionary psychology. It is about how we have behaviors that have evolved and it talks about interesting subjects like why we find certain things disgusting and how that is an evolved mechanism to avoid disease and how shame may be an evolved emotion to keep us from getting kicked out of our groups since humans are social beings that need to be around other people to benefit their survival. It is definitely like nothing I have ever taken before and it has got me thinking about subjects I've never paid much attention to. There are so many great interesting classes that are offered here. I usually only spend time with professors outside of class if I need help with something and I go to their office hours. I think JMU is definitely getting harder to get into. It is getting more competitive as the academics are improving. I think the school is geared towards learning I think any student needs to be interested in learning and expanding their knowledge in order to go to college and that it isn't just about getting a job. A lot of the general education classes won't have anything to do with your major they are just for you to learn different things that you wont be exposed to as your academic career progresses.

Overall, I think we have great academics here. I have had a few slack classes (mostly Gen-Eds) but for the most part, the teachers expect you to really step up. The professors are so great too, they really do want to help you, weither it's in a class of 100 or 20, they make sure they do what they can to help you understand the material. To keep up with all the work and keep decent grades, a good amount of study time is required. Nothing too overwhelming in my opinion, but you definately can't just slide by not doing much, no matter how "naturally smart" you are.

Bottom line, students go to college for the academics. We all want jobs and a future to look forward to. I switched my major my second year of college to Communication Sciences and Disorders. Although the major was small compared to others on campus, my courses were all about the latest technological and research advancements. As a clinically based field, Speech Pathology and Audiology need to be constantly up to date with the most recent findings and theories. The courses are challenging, especially your junior and senior year. Also, as a senior, your fall semester is full of applying to masters and doctorate programs. Fortunately, the advisors and professors are fully aware and supportive of this. Throughout my career, I was presented with multiple opportunities to learn more about the field outside of the classroom. I have worked on undergraduate research, observed in the hearing clinic right on JMU's campus, and took part in lectures in the graduate cadaver lab. If you want a hands on and rewarding major, CSD is a perfect fit.

Professors are generally very accommodating, and try to help out students. Some classes are difficult, but with work a good grade is accomplishable.

The education here is pretty exciting. Granted certain geneds are boring, but if you like your major, you won't suffer too much.

organic chemistry is my favorite class, my least favorite is organic chemistry, i study a few days before tests and try to participate in smaller classes...i'm a bio major

James Madison's acidemics are pretty good. Some gen. ed. classes are really large, but then they get evened out with smaller classes. Most professors make a point to let you know that they actually care. I do not agree with some of the nursing requirements.